Inert ultraviolet curing apparatus

Abstract

A curing apparatus (100) includes a housing (102) having a loading portion (108) open to ambient atmosphere, a curing portion (110) having a curing chamber (124) with a controlled atmosphere, and a transition portion (112) extending between the loading portion (108) and the curing portion (110). A carrier (128) is movable between the loading portion (108) and the curing chamber (124) via the transition portion (112). The curing apparatus (100) further includes at least one ultraviolet radiation source (150) operative for transmitting ultraviolet radiation into the curing chamber (124). The transition portion (112) includes a plurality of baffles (158) protruding from a sidewall (120) of the transition portion (112) and configured for minimizing mixing between the ambient atmosphere and the controlled atmosphere during movement of the carrier (128) between the loading portion (108) and the curing chamber (124).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.